SEPIAD.E. CUTTLE. 261 



of Loligo. The Chinese have a special boat for the 



Cuttle-fish fishery, which is carried on both by day and 



night ; and if by night a fire is lighted on deck, that the 



glare may attract the fish to the surface. The season 



for cuttle-fish extends from the second to the eighth 



Chinese month (March to September), and the haul is 



most abundant in the fifth, sixth, and seventh months 



(June, July, and August). They are taken with nets, 



and also with hooks. ... It is only in rainy weather 



that Cuttle-fish are brought at once to the market and 



sold fresh. In fine seasons they are dried in the sun 



ou the rocky islands, and then disposed of. ... To 



dry Cuttle-fish they must be cut open and eviscerated, 



and finally exposed on a bamboo mat in the sun. 



When quite dry they are packed in wooden tubs and 



flattened by the aid of human feet.* 



The flesh of the Loligo, or Squid, was highly esteemed 



by the ancients, and Ephippus recommends the eating 



of Squids and Cuttle-fish together. 



"And many polypi, with wondrous curls." 



A then , Deipnosophiets. 



And Sotades, the comic poet, introduces a cook, speak- 

 ing as follows : — 



"To these I added cuttlefish and squilis; 

 A fine dish is the squill when carefully cooked, 

 But the rich cuttlefish is eaten plain ; 

 (Though I did stuff them all with a rich forced-meat 

 Of almost every kind of herb and flower). 



Bk. vii. c. 41, At/ien,, Deipnosophists, 



They are still exposed for sale in the bazaars and 

 markets in India. 



With us the Squid, or Squill, as it is sometimes caliea 

 at Weymouth, is only used as bait. It is good for 

 * China, ' Imperial Maritime Customs.' 



